Atriplex

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The generic boundaries of Atriplex have long been unclear. Halimione Aell. and Obione Gaertn., both represented in Belgium as natives or aliens, are characterised by hardened, almost completely fused fruiting bracteoles but otherwise scarcely differ from Atriplex s.str. They have often been included in Atriplex by recent authors (see for instance Uotila 2001, van der Meijden 2005, Suchorukow 2007, Stace 2010) but Kadereit & al. (2010) demonstrated that Halimione should be excluded from Atriplex.

The shrubby Atriplex halimus is sometimes planted in the seadunes for erosion control or as a windbreak. It was introduced around 1920 in the dunes between Blankenberge and Zeebrugge and near Knokke and was well-established for some time. It still exists in the coastal dunes in northern France, close to the Belgian frontiers, and could re-appear some day.

An additional species, Atriplex oblongifolia, is recently increasingly found in neighbouring areas, especially along motorways. It superficially resembles native Atriplex patula and might have been overlooked. However, in Atriplex oblongifolia leaves are densely white-mealy beneath and fruiting bracteoles are entire and smooth (see also Gudžinskas & Sukhorukov 2004).

5. Fruiting bracteoles fused at base or up to ½ their length, rhombic or triangular, entire to toothed at margin, often with appendages (native) === A. glabriuscula, A. littoralis, A. patula and A. prostrata